Ralf Schumacher has broken his silence after Sergio Perez’s father appeared to make comments ridiculing his sexuality.
Schumacher, 49, a former Williams driver in Formula 1, came out as gay in July by posting a photo of himself next to his French manager Etienne Bousquet-Cassagne.
The news marked the end of his marriage to reality TV star Cora Schumacher, 47, to whom he was married for 13 years between 2001 and 2014.
While the brother of seven-time world champion Michael is now embroiled in a feud with Cora, he received a largely outpouring of positive messages in the wake of his announcement, including from his good friend, German actress Carmen Geiss.
However, Antonio Perez Garibay made seemingly negative comments about Schumacher’s sexual orientation while responding to the pundit’s criticism of Sky Germany.
‘There is a driver who was a Formula 1 driver, [turned] journalist. “He first stated that Checo was already out of Red Bull,” Perez’s father told Mexican media. ‘The following week, [Schumacher] came out of the closet.
Ralf Schumacher (left) has responded to comments from Sergio Perez’s father about his sexuality
Antonio Perez Garibay apparently made negative comments about Schumacher’s sexual orientation
He defended his son Sergio, who has had a difficult time at Red Bull this season
‘I don’t know if he was in love with Checo. Do you understand? There are a lot of strange things.
‘You no longer know whether he is a journalist, a woman, a gentleman. But his opinion doesn’t matter, not because of Checo Perez, but because of what his is [ex-]woman said about him.’
Perez has come under much criticism for his poor performances in the Red Bull this season, as he sits eighth in the drivers’ standings.
The Mexican star is still without a win this season going into the final three races of the season and his lack of form has contributed to the Austrian racing team’s fall to third place in the constructors’ standings.
As it looks like Red Bull will fail in their hunt to retain the title, calls for a move for Perez are growing louder, despite him signing a new contract earlier this season.
And following Perez Garibay’s comment, Schumacher has emphasized on social media that he is not angry with the Red Bull driver’s father.
“I would also support my son 100 percent and try to help,” Schumacher wrote on Instagram. ‘That’s what you do as a father. As for the style, I would be different, but we know Mr. Perez with all his emotions.
‘That’s why I’m not mad at him. However, I think on-track results would be the better argument.”
Schumacher admitted on Instagram that he was not angry with Perez Garibay’s comments
Perez Garibay was apparently referring to Schumacher’s ex-wife Cora’s comments in which she questioned whether his now ex-husband truly loved her and feels “stabbed in the heart”
The model claimed in August that she found out about the relationship through social media
Six-time Grand Prix winner Ralf raced between 1997 and 2007. Pictured with legendary brother Michael, left
Perez Garibay’s comments about Cora seemed to refer to the model and former racer saying she “felt used” and had “wasted her best years” after discovering the news of Schumacher’s homosexuality.
She also revealed that she was only aware of her ex-husband’s relationship with Bousquet-Cassagne when she saw it via social media, while she also believes she was psychologically manipulated by Schumacher.
Responding to his ex-wife, the six-time F1 Grand Prix winner insisted he had always been faithful to Cora and that if he had wanted a child he could have achieved it in some other way than marriage.
He added that she seemed to be the only one who objected to his relationship update. According to Geiss, Ralf has been with 34-year-old Etienne for two years after meeting him in Monaco.
Ralf and Cora were still believed to be close when he congratulated her on joining the cast of the German version of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in January.
She is a German actress, model, former racing driver and television presenter. She is also on OnlyFans, a platform for adults.